Mensinger

I. BACKGROUND

A. The Parties’ Dispute Appellants and respondents are neighbors on a private cul-de-sac. For several years, they have been embroiled in a dispute over what appellants claim is unpermitted and illegal construction by respondents, and what respondents claim is trespassing and harassment by appellants.2 According to appellants, respondents engaged in large-scale dumping and grading to build an unpermitted recreational vehicle pad on their property, which caused a hillside slope to fail. Then, they dumped fill and debris on and trespassed on appellants’ property and easement in an apparent effort to retain the failing hillside. These activities damaged and impeded appellants’ access to their property. Appellants lodged a complaint, which was investigated by the Code Enforcement Division of the Alameda County Community Development Agency and the Alameda County Public Works Agency. They then complained to several more local government agencies about respondents’ activities. Appellants took photographs of respondents and their property to support their complaints. Meanwhile, Mensinger filed separate requests for civil harassment restraining orders against appellants,…